A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It is 1932 and Maisie Dobbs is recruited by Scotland Yard's Special Branch to go undercover as a junior lecturer at a Cambridge college to observe activities “not in the interests of His Majesty’s Government.” And sure enough, the college President is found dead in his office, another professor is secretly skulking off to London, and whisps of communism and nazi gatherings are in the air.



Winspear skillfully evokes England at the fulcrum between the wars: Hitler's seductive nationalism, the desperate desire for peace among nations, the hope for a better tomorrow. Observant, beguiling, astute and humorous by turns, Maisie is a delightful and multi-layered character---the perfect companion to lead the reader through these events.



View all my reviews

The Attenbury Emeralds by Jill Paton Walsh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lord Peter Wimsey sleuths again through the pen of Jill Paton Walsh. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery which follows the Attenbury family emeralds as they are misplaced, stolen, swapped for paste copies, gambled away and recovered over several generations. I think Paton Walsh stays true to Dorothy L. Sayres' original characters and is adept at creating the witty repartee' and literary references so often found in the original Wimsey mysteries.



View all my reviews

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Edie Burchill is intrigued by her mother's emotional reaction to a letter, arriving 50 years after it was posted during World War II. Her mother, Meredith, has said little about being evacuated from London as a young teen, or her time with the Blythe sisters of Milderhurst Castle. Events bring Edie close to Milderhurst, and she cannot resist the temptation to look into the secrets and mysteries of the Blythes and this phase of her mother's life. This is a marvelous read if you appreciate intricate character study and tracing the interwoven threads of people's lives. The truth about these lives is seldom what it appears to be at first. Chapters alternate between points of view: Edie, Meredith,the three Blythe sisters, as well as alternating time periods: the present, the childhood years of the Blythes, the years of World War II, and a particular fateful night in 1941. Morton has penned another expansive novel that plumbs the depths of intertwined family history in a similar vein to her The Forgotten Garden.



View all my reviews

The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us by Tanya Lee Stone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I am a 'victim'(?)of Barbie's cult of fashion! At age 9 I considered adding 'modeling' to my other career goals which included cattle driver, ballerina, and poet. After saving my allowance, and profits from a door-to-door potholder 'business,' I was able to buy Barbie's "Solo in the Spotlight" and was thoroughly convinced that fashion was attainable with a little planning.

It was delicious fun to pour over the pictures and read the history of Barbie, her appreciators, detractors, and all her incarnations over half a century.



View all my reviews

The Black Cat
The Black Cat (Richard Jury, #22)The Black Cat by Martha Grimes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Richard Jury is back and crossing mental swords with his nemesis, Harry, over the murder of woman at THE BLACK CAT pub. Once again, Melrose Plant is enlisted to help Jury in the investigation and the interplay of these old friends provide a touch of irony and humor amid the murder investigation.

No spoilers here . . . Grimes fans will welcome the Chief Inspector's return along with other familiar characters. I especially enjoy the return of Mungo, Harry's dog, who has his own caper in this book . . . engineering the return of a kidnapped cat to THE BLACK CAT pub.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Andi is raging against the world. She is depressed over the death of her brother, angry that her geneticist father is pouring himself into his work, frustrated with her mother's inability to cope, and jeopardizing her education. Forced to accompany her father to Paris, Andi starts to research her college application essay when she finds the diary of Alexandrine, a young woman living in France during the French Revolution and becomes obsessed with her story. This is a terrific read that recalls the 'mystery across time' conceit in such titles as Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME or Byatt's POSSESSION.



View all my reviews

Nemesis by Lindsey Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The normally wiscracking Marcus Didius Falco is subdued at the start of this novel: it is 77 C.E., his infant son has died, he worries about his wife, then his father dies as well, leaving Falco to execute his affairs. While trying to settle one of Pa's contracts, Falco learns the statue maker and his wife has disappeared; possibly because of a disagreement with the Claudii clan. Falco & friends begin to investigate, then are called off the case when Anacrites, Chief Spy for Caesar, takes over.



I have been a fan of Falco for a number of years and eagerly await each new opportunity to vicariously sleuth around Ancient Rome with this "informer". Despite the darker mood here, the wit, humor, family intricacies, and political intrigue of Rome still surface; but the dark twists continue throughout ... inevitable with "Nemesis" as a title.



View all my reviews

When I Was Joe by Keren David


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ty and his mother, Nicki, are taken into witness protection after Ty witnesses the death of a young boy in a London park. In his new persona as Joe, Ty is able to reinvent himself. He makes friends at his new school, attracts the attention of Ashley, the clique queen, and starts training as a runner. But living a lie proves difficult for both Ty and his mother, because Ty hasn't told the police the whole truth.

The novel vibrates with tension. There are several attempts on Ty's life, his Gram is attacked, and school personnel treat him with suspicion because they've been told 'there was some trouble at his old school.' David uses Ty's point of view to frame the narrative. This effectively highlights the tension between playing the role of Joe and reflecting on exactly who Ty really is. This is the first of several novels about Ty; a teaser chapter to the next book is included. David has created an interesting young adult who must navigate his journey of self discovery while caught up in truly suspenseful game of cat and mouse. I look forward to the next installment of his journey. This book was reviewed from the ARC.

View all my reviews >>

Here's a little end of the week fun!

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Riordan takes off on a new series featuring a brother and sister who discover they are descended from the bloodline of the Pharohs, opening them up to being conduits for the Eygptian gods. Here is adventure, humor, magic and quite a bit of hieroglphs and mythology as the kids battle for their lives and an understanding of their place between the current world and ancient mythology.

View all my reviews >>

George Washington has been racking up considerable late fees at New York Society Library during the past two centuries. The Daily News reported that a pair of books borrowed by the father of our country had been due November 2, 1789, but were never returned. Head librarian Mark Bartlett said they are not pursuing the $300,000 fine.

spotted in Shelf Awareness, April 20, 2010.
shelf-awareness.com

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia


My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This title has received a lot of hype recently as a possible Newbery contender, but I have mixed feelings about it. Williams-Garcia does a brilliant job of capturing the point of view of Delphine, the young narrator who is shepharding her two younger sisters on a cross country visit to Nzila, their mother who walked out on the family seven years ago. Both humor and poignancy come through the narration and Williams-Garcia evokes the Black Panther movement and the 1960's with a deft hand. But I am tripped up by the characterization of Nzila; she is not merely distant and self absorbed, but negligent [not even thinking about feeding the girls:] and cruel [taking all the money away from Delphine:]. This is a woman who is a poet, supposedly probing how events and relationships have effected her life .... and yet, she denies any consideration toward these three girls. She seems more sympathetic to the Panthers, although it is clear she is not an activist in their cause. I suppose the case can be made that she knows the Black Panther community center will feed the girls, and Delphine is capable of looking out for Vonetta and Fern. Yet, given what we learn by the end of the book about Nzila's early life, I can have no sympathy for her inflicting similar burdens on Delphine.

View all my reviews >>

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Minli's desire, to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how to change her family's fortune, sparks her quest to find Never-Ending Mountain. Grace Lin evokes folklore motifs to frame Minli's journey, and everyone Minli meets also has a tale to tell. These folktales within a folktale comprise a very enjoyable read, as each tale informs the larger story of Minli and her village. Full color illustrations by Lin add to the reader's enjoyment.
View all my reviews

The Reading Chair

I covet this chair and wish I could plant one in my library!

The Reading Chair is now at Steynberg Gallery at 1531 Monterey. If you live in San Luis Obispo, do drop by -- you're welcome to sit and read. And take a picture: There's a disposable camera in the ottoman :)

Designed by Chris Allen for the Reading in Public project in San Luis Obispo, California.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
With Eyes Like Stars Lisa Mantchev opens the door to the Theatre Illuninata where all the characters of literature live, just waiting to act their parts. Amid the dramatis personae lives Beatrice Shakespere Smith, an orphan who has grown up in the theatre. Prone to getting into mischief with the help of Moth, Peaseblossom, and other Midsummer Night's Dream faeries, Beatrice must prove her worth and find her role in the theatre or face being expelled out into the wider real world. I appreciate authors who create a world that is so appealing I hate to disengage my imagination and put the book aside; I am already craving the sequel. (reviewed from the ARC)


View all my reviews.

Enter for a chance to win Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev Otherwise the FAIRIES will get you!

Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

My Review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Young Magpie Windwitch, faerie granddaughter of the West Wind, is curious, brave, adventurous, and a talented Devil-hunter, but doesn't know of all the magical blessings bestowed on her at birth. When a mysterious darkness threatens the faerie realm of Dreamdark, Magpie must find the resources to capture the Blackbringer before it destroys her world.

Taylor has so carefully wrought her Dreamdark realm that this series promises to become a favorite of fantasy devotees.

View all my reviews.

from Shelf Awareness - Friday April 24, 2009

The first three inductees to the Indies Choice Book Awards Picture Book Hall of Fame have been voted in by members of the American Booksellers Association. According to Bookselling this Week, the 2009 inductees are:
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollins)
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey (Viking Juvenile)
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (Hyperion Books for Children)
"ABA members have fittingly chosen two perennial favorites and a modern classic as the first inductees to the Indies Choice Book Awards Picture Book Hall of Fame, created to bring well-deserved attention to the wonderful backlist titles handsold at independent bookstores from coast to coast," said ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz. "These three titles, which have made frequent appearances on Indie Bestsellers lists over the years, are a terrific beginning for a new annual tradition."

The New York Times reports on a library in Arizona which has abandoned the Dewey Classification system for a "neighborhood" or bookstore style arrangement. These attempts at delivering a more patron friendly library always intrigue me because of the problems I have encountered finding things in bookstores. Browsing works when you have a vague idea of the type of book you want to read (mystery, history, cooking, etc.) , but it can be frustrating if your needs are more focused (low cholesterol cooking, the battle for Anzio during World War II) because you might need to "browse" several shelves looking for something that fits your request. And often, even helpful bookstore staff are stumped.

In a bookstore they might not even have a title that fits your need, but, in a more comprehensive library, how do you find what you need in the library without a classification system? While both Dewey and LC may have their drawbacks, I can't see abandoning them for no method of organization. If there is no catalog to use, are the items classified in some other way so the staff know what "neighborhood" titles 'live in'? Is there a secret 'staff catalog' of authors, titles, and subjects headings? How do the staff cope with questions?

Nice little set of statistics from the RIF newsletter:

Reading Is Fundamental | Parents | Elementary, My Dear Watson  Annotated

The Wonderful World of Fantasy

This month, the last Harry Potter book hits the shelves.  The bestselling series has introduced millions of kids worldwide to the joy of reading and to the wonderful world of fantasy. 

According to a 2006 Scholastic and Yankelovich study, :

76 percent of Harry Potter readers surveyed agreed that reading the series has made them interested in reading other books.

65 percent of Harry Potter readers agreed they have been doing better in school since reading the series.

Similarly, 89 percent of these readers' parents agreed that the series has helped their child enjoy reading more, and 76 percent agree the series has helped their child in school.

The Harry Potter series joins a lengthy list of magical books that have been engaging kids for centuries: from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy to Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series. This month, whether your kids are Harry Potter fans or not, get them wrapped up in a fantastical story with these books and activities. 

Games & Activities

• 
  
  Harry Potter Crossword Puzzle —Test your chid's Harry Potter IQ with this fun crossword. (View the answer key.)
  
  


• 
  
  Aang, the Avatar Q&A—Read an interview with the star of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
  
   
  


• Eoin Colfer Q&A—Read an interview with the author of the Artemis Fowl series.  
  
   
  


• 
  Fantasy Booklist—Read one of these books to or with your child.